Tool for withdrawing casings from wells.



no. man. Patented out. 14,1902. 1

s. BENmsoN.

TOUL FDR WITHDRAWING CASINGS FROM WELLS. (Apmicaeion med .my 25, 1901.)

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL BENNISON, OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

TOOL FOR WITHDRAWING CASINGS FROM WELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 711,378, dated October 14, 1902.

Application filed July 25 1901.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL BENNisoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented a new and lmproved Tool for Vithdrawing Casings from Wells, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to tools for releasing and withdrawing the metal casing of an Artesian water-well or an oil-well either entire or in sections when this is desired, and has for its object to provide a tool of the character indicated which is of novel construction, that adapts it for very efficient service, and renders said tool easy to apply and convenient to manipulate while in use.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described, and defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the iigures.

Figure l is a transverse sectional view of one form of the invention substantially on the line l l in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a partly-sectional side view of the same, showing the improved tool loosely introduced within a portion of a well-casing. Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of parts shown in Fig. 2, but adjusted to bite upon the interior surface of the well-casing. Fig. 1i is a sectional side view of a portion of a tubular well-casing, a sleevecoupling screwed thereon, and a slightlymodified form of the improvement applied to grip the tubular section internally for its rotatable movement and release from the coupling that in complete form connects the casing-section with a like section. Fig. 5 is a lower end view of the tool shown'in Fig. 4 and the sleeve-coupling in section substantially on the line 5 5 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a reduced side View of the improvement, showing another slight change in construction there-` of; and Fig. 7 is a plan view of the device constructed as shown in Fig. 4.

In the drawings that show the construction and application of the invention, l0 indicates a portion of a well-casing that, as usual, is

in Fig. 3.

Serial No. 69.688. (No model.)

tubular and of suitable metal. In some cases it is desirable to raise the casing intact from the bore of the well-as, for instance, in the operation of sinking the well the portion of the casing already introduced therein may become so wedged fast as to render its movement rotatably or downward impossible.

In Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the invention is shown as embodying details of construction which adapt the tool for use especially as a lifting implement which will operate very eectively in engaging within the casing portion that is to be bodily withdrawn from the bore of a well and by its grip thereon enable the elevation of the tube from the well, as will appear from the following description. Two chuck-jaws ll of like shape and dimensions are main features of the device shown in the figures named, and each jaw is semicircular on the outer surface, so that when the opposite flat sides a of the jaws are disposed in contact with each other the assembled jaws represent a cylinder externally. Itis to be understood, however, that the number of chuck-jaws may be increased, as shown in Fig. 7. The chuck-jaws 1l are'channeled longitudinally in their flat sides a, at the center of width thereof, and said similar channels are each substantially V-shaped in cross-section, tapering from the normal lower end of the jaw toward the opposite or upper end of the same, whereby a tapering rectangular passage is formed in the assembled jaws l1. While the passage in the assembled jaws 11 may with advantage be rectangular, considered transversely, it is to be understood that said passage may have any other form in crosssection that is preferred. A wedge-block 12 is provided for engagement Within the passage formed in the chuck-jaws 11 and is tapered to lit therein when extended a proper distance below the lower ends of said jaws, as shown From the upper end of the wedgeblock l2 a tubular stem 12a is extended of a sufficient length to reach to the upper end of the well-casing, and the bore of said tube eX- tends axially through the wedge-block, as shown in Fig. 3 at a. Upon the upper end of the tubular stem 12a a cap-piece l2b may be secured by threaded engagement therewith, as shown in Fig. 3, said cap piece having a IOO transverse eye b therein for attachment to the stem of one end of a hoisting chain or cable. (Not shown.) The-bore of the stem 12a extends through the cap-piece, so that an uninterrupted conduit for air or water is thus provided through the Wedge-block and its attachments. The lower ends of the chuckjaws 11 and the wedge-block 12 are suitably tapered, and thus adapt the annular tapering edges of the wedge-block to serve as a reamer for the removal of any obstruction that may have accumulated in the bore of the lcasing 10. Preferably the sides of the Wedge-block l2 are longitudinally fluted, as shown at c,which reduces the surface thereof that has frictional contact with the angular aperture in the chuck-jaws 11 and permits the introduction of a suitable lubricant within the flutes or grooves for further reduction of friction in the use of the tool. A collar d is adjustably secured on the tubular stem 12a at a suitable point above the wedgeblock 12, and spaced ears d/ are projected from said collar. Upon each of the ears d' one end of a coupling-chain 13 is loosely secured, the lower ends thereof being in a like manner attached to the respective screw eyebolts e or the like which project from the upper ends of the chuck-jaws 11. Near each end of each chuck-jaw 1l a circumferential groove g is cnt, these grooves at each end of the jaws being so disposed that they provide continuous channels at the ends of the chuckjaws when said jaws are arranged adjacent to each other. In each groove g a springband il is loosely held, said bands being slit to open them and permit resilience, any suitable material being employed in their construction. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in the periphery ot' the chuck-jaws 11 between the ann ulai` grooves g a series of similar upwardly and outwardly inclined teeth h are formed. These teeth are substantially V- shaped and may be constituted by a continuous annular rib.

If the tool hereinbefore described is to be employed for the removal of one or more casing-sections 10 from the bore of a well, it is in complete form lowered into the tubular section with which it is to engage. When in proper position within the casing-section, the chuck-jaws 11 are spread apart and the teeth h forcibly impinged upon the inner surface of the casing-section by pulling upon the tubular stem 12", which will correspondingly slide the wedge-block l2 upwardly within the chuck-jaws ll and force them apart, so as to enforce contact of their teeth h with the casing 10. To loosen the casing in the bore of the well if the latter is dry, water may be freely introduced therein down through the bore of the hollow stem 12a and the alined axial perforation cd in the wedge-block l2. Obviously the application of draft force upon the upper end of the tubular stem 12 will hold the teeth 71 forcibly engaged with the casing 10, and the latter may be drawn 'upwardly if such an application of power is suffieient in degree. tions of a well-casing must-be removed one after the other, as it may be impossible to draw the casing intact from the bore of a well.

To enable the operator to rotate a casingsection in a proper direction for unscrewing it from the section next below it, the modied form of the tool shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 7 is provided. This change in construction consists, essentially, in changing the trend of the peripheral teeth and in increasing the number of chuck-jaws and sections whereon the teeth are formed. As shown, there are four similar chuck-jaw sections 14 provided, and in these four jaw-sections a tapered passage is formed for the reception of the wedge-block 12, that is identical in form with the wedgeblock already described and has a tubular stem 12 upwardly extending therefrom. The four chuck-jaw sections 14 are longitudinally grooved to form V-shaped ribs or teeth m thereon, said teeth trending oppositely from the pitch of the thread formed on the ends of the casing-sections and sockets 10, that hold these sections coupled together. The four chuck-jaw sections are grooved near their ends circumferentially for the'reception of clasping-bands t', that serve to hold the chuckjaw sections assembled, but free to move outward when pressed by the wedge-block 12. Upon the upper end portion of the tubular stem 122L a tubular fourway piece 12c is screwed or otherwise secured, said piece having lever-arms 12d extended laterally therefrom to facilitate the manual rotation of a casing-section engaged by the tool, and the cap-piece l2b may bescrewed upon the top of the four-way piece instead of engaging the stem l2, as hereinbefore mentioned. The tapered lower ends of the chuck-jaws 14 are also grooved longitudinally, and they coperate with the tapered and longitudinallygrooved lower end of the wedge-block 12 to provide a reamer for cleaning out the interior of a casing-section, so as to permit the inserion of the tool therein, the device being in this case rotated by means of the lever-arms 12d. It will be seen that if the tool having longitudinal teeth m thereon is introduced within a casing-section near its coupled end and is expanded therein the rotation of the device in a proper direction will unscrew the casing-section and said device have such enforced engagement within the casing-section as will permit it to hold thereupon While the device and released casing-section are lifted from the well-bore.

In Fig. 6 the peripheral teeth on the chuckjaw sections 15 are spirally disposed, the other details of the device being the same as already described, and it will be evident that when the chuck-jaws having spiral ribbed teeth n thereon are expanded within a casing-section the latter may be unscrewed from In some instances thesec-y IOO IIO

another casing -section or socketcoupling thereon and then be elevated from the wellbore.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A well casing extractor comprising a split chuck formed by a plurality of radiallyexpansible members havin gsubstantially continuous and circumferentially-toothed gripper-surfaces on the outside thereof,and means for expanding said members, said sections of the chuckbeingtapered at one end and formed with substantially continuous ribbed reamersurfaces.

2. A wellcasing extractor comprising a split chuck formed by a series of radially-expansible members having substantially continuous and circumferentially-toothed gripper-surfaces ou the outside thereof, a slidable mandrel operatively engaging with said members forming the chuck-body and extending beyond one end of said body, said chuck and the exposed end of the mandrel having their lower faces tapered and ribbed to produce an active reamer-surface.

3. A wellcasing extractor comprising a split chuck formed by a plurality of radiallyexpansible members having substantially continuous and toothed gripper-surfaces on the outside thereof, the lower end of said body being tapered and formed with a ribbed reamer-face, and a mandrel engaging with said chuck-body members and having a lower protruding end formed with a ribbed reamersurface which is in coperative relation to the similar surface at the corresponding end of the chuck-body.

4. The combination with a plurality of chuck-j aw sections which together form a cylinder externally, a series of angular rib-like teeth on the exterior of the chuck-jaws, said jaws together having a longitudinal angular passage axially formed therein, and a clasping-band loosely held near each end of the assembled chuck-jaw sections, of an angular, longitudinally-perforated wedge-block, a tubular stem extended from the smaller end of the wedge-block, and iiexible connections between the ends of the chuck-j aw sections and the tubular stem.

5. A well-casing extractor lcomprising a reamer-surfaces in the lower end of said split body, and a mandrel slidably engaging with the chuck members and terminating in an upwardly-extending operating-stem, whereby the reamer of the chuck may be operated by a rotary motion of the stem, and the chuck may be expanded into frictional engagement with a well-casing by a slidable adjustment of the stem and the mandrel.

6. A well-casing extractor comprising a` surface of the latter.

7. A well-casing extractor comprising an expansible chuck, a tapering slidable mandrel engaging, with said chuck to expand the latter andhaving a longitudinal passage extending therethrough and opening through or below the lower end of the chuck, a hollow stem fast with the mandrel and having its bore in communication with the passage therein, and means for yieldably coninin g the expansible chuck and the mandrel in operative connection one with the other.

8. A well-casing extractor comprising an expansible chuck-body divided longitudinally into a series of complemental sections and assembled together in matching relation, said body having external gripper-teeth, yieldable means engaging with the end portions of the body and expansibly conining the sections of the chuck-body in operative relation, a stein extending upwardly from the mandrel,pliable connections between the stem and the individual members of the chuck-body and a tapered shoulderless mandrel extending through the body and engaging with the members thereof.

9. A well-casing extractor comprising an expansible chuck-body having a gripper-surface and divided longitudinally into complemen-` tal sections, yieldable bands embracing the end portions of the chuck-body and countersunk within the active surface thereof, a stem extending upwardly from the mandrel, pliable connections between the stem and the individual members of the chuck-body and a tapered mandrel extending through the chuck-body and engaging interiorly with the sections thereof.

10. A well-casing extractor, comprising a chuck-body divided longitudinally into and formed exclusively by a plurality of complementary matching sections, said body having an external gripper-surface formed by ribs or teeth, a slidable wedge-like mandrel for ex- IOO IIO

panding the sections of said chuck-body, col operative ribbed reamer-surfaces on the under side of the chuck-body and the mandrel, and an upwardly-extending stem fast with said mandrel and adapted to rot-ate and impart endwise movement to the mandrel,whereby the chuck-body may be expanded or it may be rotated.

11. A well-casing extractor, comprising a chuck-body divided longitudinally into a plurality of matching sections, and an expandermandrel having a ribbed surface, said chuckbody surrounding the ribbed surface 0f the and the mandrel, and flexible connections between the members of the chuck-body and the stem.

In testimony whereof I have signed my I5 name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL BENNISON.

mandrel, and said surface of the mandrel engaging frictionally with the inner faces of the body-sections.

l2. A well-casing extractor, comprising a divided chuck-body, a tapered mandrel eX- tending therethrough and having an upwardly-extending stem, yieldable bands embracing the chuck body circumferentially and confining the members thereof into coperative relation to the mandrel, cooperative reamer-surfaces on the under side of the body Witnesses:

GEORGE M. CAMPBELL, F. LAUTERBACH. 

